State title eludes Hightower in second championship game appearance

Updated 4:48 am, Sunday, December 18, 2011

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) is consoled by head coach Barry Abercrombie as an assistant coach consoles wide receiver Dantrai Simmons (17) as time expires on the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) is consoled by head coach Barry Abercrombie as an assistant coach consoles wide receiver Dantrai Simmons (17) as time expires on the 5A Div. 1 state championship high

Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) crosses midfield as he scrambles away from Southlake Carroll defensive lineman Jeff Miller (45) during the first quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington.

Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) crosses midfield as he scrambles away from Southlake Carroll defensive lineman Jeff Miller (45) during the first quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school

Hightower running back Joshua Wilhite (3) is tripped up by Southlake Carroll defensive lineman Nash Dickey (99) during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Hightower running back Joshua Wilhite (3) is tripped up by Southlake Carroll defensive lineman Nash Dickey (99) during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys

Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) tries to leap over Southlake Carroll defensive back Matt Swoyer (30) during the second quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington.

Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) tries to leap over Southlake Carroll defensive back Matt Swoyer (30) during the second quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys

Hightower running back Jaquinn Henderson (28) goes into the end zone past Southlake Carroll defenders Will Davis (35) and Nash Dickey (99) during the first quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington.

Hightower running back Jaquinn Henderson (28) goes into the end zone past Southlake Carroll defenders Will Davis (35) and Nash Dickey (99) during the first quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high

Hightower head coach Barry Abercrombie questions an official during the second quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game against Southlake Carroll at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington.

Hightower head coach Barry Abercrombie questions an official during the second quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game against Southlake Carroll at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday,

Hightower defensive back Casey Edgley (22) breaks up a pass intended for Southlake Carroll wide receiver Sabian Holmes (23) during the first quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington.

Hightower defensive back Casey Edgley (22) breaks up a pass intended for Southlake Carroll wide receiver Sabian Holmes (23) during the first quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game

Southlake Carroll quarterback Kenny Hill loses control of the ball, but manages to hold on, as he is hit by two Hightower defenders on the final drive of the game as Carroll runs out the clock on Hightower during the fourth quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Southlake Carroll quarterback Kenny Hill loses control of the ball, but manages to hold on, as he is hit by two Hightower defenders on the final drive of the game as Carroll runs out the clock on Hightower

Southlake Carroll wide receiver Sabian Holmes (23) hauls in a 59-yard touchdown pass against Hightower during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Southlake Carroll wide receiver Sabian Holmes (23) hauls in a 59-yard touchdown pass against Hightower during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on

Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) is seen on the overhead video screen as he lines up his team during the first quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game against Southlake Carroll at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington.

Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) is seen on the overhead video screen as he lines up his team during the first quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game against Southlake

Hightower fans show support for their team following the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Hightower fans show support for their team following the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) crosses the goal line past Southlake Carroll defensive back Sabian Holmes (23) during the second quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington.

Hightower quarterback Bralon Addison (2) crosses the goal line past Southlake Carroll defensive back Sabian Holmes (23) during the second quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at

Hightower fans cheer their defense during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Hightower fans cheer their defense during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the

Hightower players watch on the video screen as Southlake Carroll wide receiver Corey Kemp (9) scores on a 20-yard touchdown catch during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Hightower players watch on the video screen as Southlake Carroll wide receiver Corey Kemp (9) scores on a 20-yard touchdown catch during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football

Southlake Carroll defensive back Nick Melocki (27) knocks a pass away from Hightower wide receiver Donald Weathersby (8) thwarting a two-point conversion attempt during the second half of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Southlake Carroll offensive lineman Austin Tyrone (52) celebrates a touchdown run by Kenny Hill as Hightower defensive lineman Derrick Smith, bottom, is slow to get up during the fourth quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Southlake Carroll offensive lineman Austin Tyrone (52) celebrates a touchdown run by Kenny Hill as Hightower defensive lineman Derrick Smith, bottom, is slow to get up during the fourth quarter of the 5A Div. 1

Hightower wide receiver Donald Weathersby (8) has a pass knocked away from him at the goal line by Southlake Carroll defensive back Sabian Holmes (23) during the fourth quarter of the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Hightower defensive lineman vincent Rodriguez (51) collects himself while sitting on the field with teammates following the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Arlington. Southlake Carroll won the game 36-29.

Hightower defensive lineman vincent Rodriguez (51) collects himself while sitting on the field with teammates following the 5A Div. 1 state championship high school football game at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday,

ARLINGTON — It took their fifth comeback of the postseason, but the Southlake Carroll Dragons are back on top as Class 5A Division I champions.

The Dragons defeated Hightower 36-29 in front of a crowd of 42,896 at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday.

With the win, Southlake Carroll captured its eighth state championship, tying Celina for most in state history.

"I always knew that Southlake Carroll would get its eighth state championship," Hightower coach Barry Abercrombie said. "I just really hoped it wouldn't be against us."The Dragons have 3A state championships in 1988, 1992 and 1993; 5A Division II titles in 2002, 2004 and 2005; and 5A Division I titles in 2006 and this season.

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Trailing 29-28 in the fourth quarter, Southlake Carroll got one of those big plays whenlinebacker Will Davis knocked the ball from Hightower receiver Donald Weathersby's grasp and then recovered the fumble. A little over a minute later, Hill ran it in to the end zone from 6 yards out to give the Dragons a 36-29 lead.

It was tough for the Southlake Carroll defense to consistently make many big defensive plays given the effort of Addison, who is committed to Texas A&M. He finished the game with 183 rushing yards and two touchdowns, scoring on runs of 15 and 80 yards.

"(Addison) is definitely one of the best players in the state of Texas," Davis, the game's defensive MVP, said. "He is very quick and very explosive."

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How Southlake Carroll won

Its defense stripped WR Ryan Nelson and turned the fumble into a 36-29 lead in the fourth, then DB Sabian Holmes broke up a tying TD pass by stripping the ball from WR Donald Weathersby.

How Hightower lost

The Hurricanes couldn't consistently stop the run or the pass. The Dragons racked up 422 total yards – 193 on the ground and 229 through the air.

Hightower defenders had the same struggles with Hill, who was named offensive MVP. He finished with 229 passing yards and two touchdowns as well as 117 yards and two more scores on the ground.

"He was a great player," Hightower linebacker Myles Houston said. "He made great plays when he needed to, and we didn't get those stops. That is why we have silver medals right now."

Been there, done that

Hightower was making its second state championship appearance. The Hurricanes (13-3) lost 21-14 to Allen in the 2008 state championship.

This year, they were ranked No. 4 in the area to start the season, then lost their first two games of the year to Eisenhower and The Woodlands.

Hightower bounced back to win District 23-5A, then pounded through a tough playoff schedule that included the defending state champion, Pearland.

"No one thought we would be here," Addison said. "It hurts right now, but this has been a great season.

"The way we came together and worked hard when a lot of people counted us out for the year. We played a really good team today but just couldn't get the win."It just wasn't meant to be."